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SURVIVAL_GUIDE.HLP

Welcome, Scavenger. Decoding the Obsidian Drive is no simple task. You are up against the AI's most advanced Probability Shields. Follow this guide to increase your odds of survival.

THE BASICS

Your objective is to crack a 4-digit numeric code for each of the three security layers. You have a limited time before the AI's signal trace locates your terminal.

> OBJECTIVE: Guess the 4-digit code.
> FEEDBACK: MAT and POS pings.

UNDERSTANDING THE FEEDBACK

After every attempt, the Bypass Worm provides two critical pings:

MAT (Matches): This indicates how many digits in your guess are correct but are in the wrong position. These numbers exist in the code, but you haven't found their home yet.
POS (Exact Position): This indicates how many digits are exactly correct in both value and position. These are your "hot" digits.

ADVANCED STRATEGIES

1. The Elimination Method

Start with a sequence of identical digits (e.g., 1111). If the worm returns 0 MAT and 0 POS, you know that the digit 1 does not exist in the code at all. This narrows your search space immediately.

2. The Pivot Strategy

Once you find a "POS" hit, try changing the other three digits while keeping the successful one locked. This helps you isolate which digit was actually in the correct spot.

3. Use the History Log

Your terminal keeps a record of every attempt. Don't waste time repeating guesses. Use the previous results to logically deduce the next best move.

CLEARANCE LEVELS

EASY: 20 Minutes - Standard trace speed. Best for new Operatives.
HARD: 15 Minutes - Accelerated trace. Requires focused logic.
IMPOSSIBLE: 10 Minutes - Maximum trace speed. For veteran Scavengers only.